BISMARCK, ND – The University of Mary tennis team will host their final two home matches on Saturday, March 27, at 5:00 pm against Augustana University and on Sunday, March 28 against the University of Sioux Falls at 1 pm at the Capitol Racquet and Fitness Center. Sunday is Senior Day for the Marauders as Tasha Dembo, Yusra Hegy, Jamie Stoppler and Kelsey Lajom will be honored for their contributions to UMary.
Augustana is undefeated at 5-0 in the NSIC and tied for first place in the standings with MSU Moorhead (7-0) and Southwest Minnesota State (5-0). Sioux Falls sits in sixth at 3-2. UMary currently stands in fourth place in the NSIC at 5-2.
Tasha Dembo is third in the NSIC in number one singles with a 5-1 record as she has won her last five singles matches. Kelsey Lajom ranks fourth in number four singles with a 4-2 record. Heidi Jacobson is third in number six singles with a 3-2 record.
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders claimed two out of three doubles matches in their match against MSU Moorhead to earn one team point. Tasha Dembo won her singles match against Julia Geske 6-2, 6-2 in number one doubles, giving Geske her first loss in two years. MSUM won the match 5-2.
FAN ATTENDANCE
Fans will not be allowed to attend the match. Fans can check back for the results of the contest at goumary.com.
OPPO RESEARCH – Augustana University
Augustana has one loss on the season to #15 Southwest Baptist 4-3. AU has yet to lose a conference game as they have a 5-0 record. Freshmen Valeriya Monko ranks first in number one singles as she is undefeated at 9-0. Flore Hadjigeorgiou sits in first place for number two singles with a 6-1 record. Laura Arce Vieyra is in second place for number three singles as she has a 5-1 record. Marc Kurtz enters his seventeenth season as the Vikings head coach and has gone 234-46 over that span.
OPPO RESEARCH – University of Sioux Falls
USF is 3-3 on the season with a 3-2 conference record. Megan Quandt is the Cougars number one singles competitor as she has a 2-4 record on the season. Lexi Miller is in fifth place with a 3-3 for number three singles. Head coach Kevin Grebin enters his 20th season in charge of the Cougars.
LAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET
Last year UMary did not compete against AU due to COVID-19. In 2019 the Marauders lost to the Vikings 7-0. UMary defeated USF 4-3 in 2019.
ROSTER RUNDOWN
Returning players to the Marauders includes seniors Tasha Dembo, Yusra Hegy and Kelsey Lajom, juniors Kali Askvig and Jamie Stoppler, and sophomores Sarah Zielinski and Heidi Jacobson. UMary added three freshmen to the team with Ellie Schmidt, Samantha Purpura and Emily Patton.
UMARY PROJECTED TO FINISH FOURTH
UMary, led by the 2019 Northern Sun Coach of the Year Vida Saliendra, is projected to finish fourth in the NSIC after having one of their most successful seasons last year. The Marauders went 9-4 overall and 7-1 in the NSIC, finishing third in the NSIC before the season was canceled due to COVID-19.
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